A good farm gun ?
- Thread starter hawkd19
- Start date
FX Wildcat MK3 VP in .25 cal. Has the power potential to shoot slugs if you wish. Mine does very well at 100 yds with 25.4 gr pellets.
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Birds you could use a 177 but foxes and coyotes are at least a 25 caliber. For a long gun I would look hard at the Stoeger Ranger and Scout and for a bullpup a Stoeger Bullshark. Not real powerful but should get close to 50 fpe with 34 grain pellets. If budget permits an Umarex Zellos in 25 caliber or a SPA M60 in 25 or 30 caliber would give you a little more power, I think. SPA makes all these guns.
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I gotta ask , why not a real gun ?
22lr, 22 mag, 17 or something that requires no fiddling, didlin , and fixing .
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The Air force condor ss in .25 used is the budget king. Griffin slugs for the fox and yote. Jsb 25.4 for birds. 3000 psi, parts available, no barrel band to worry about. You could spend more but you said "Barn gun".
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I guess I’m repeating myself but I would‘t use an air rifle for a farm gun. Sure, no problem on birds but not for bigger animals as described. I understand the need to control those kinds of problems on a working farm and don’t disagree but you need something that will put out enough power at distances over 100 yards every time. I would insist on a repeater in 25-30 caliber in bolt or lever action. Other knowledgeable shooters here will give different opinions and may well have experience to back up what they say. Before I use an airgun in this situation I’ll need to see for myself that it can hit a target out to 100 yards and do enough damage to take the animal down immediately. What can I say, I’m such a pain in the butt.
Rick H.
Rick H.
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FX Panthera Comapct Hunter in 30. Cal. It will be overkill on the birds but throw in foxes and I would want a 25 cal. Add Coyotes and I want a 30 cal. Within 75 yards 30 cal pellets will do fine on coyotes.
The Compact Hunter is limited on power for a 30 but will easily develop 77 fpe with a 44.75 pellet.
I shot a large badger last year at 60 yards with mine. I am not a fan of head shots on predatory animals as they are not prone to keeping their heads steady for a head shots. The badger took an FX 44.7 gr pellet through the shoulder and made it less than 3’ before expiring. If it will do that to a badger it will do the same to a coyote.
The Compact Hunter is limited on power for a 30 but will easily develop 77 fpe with a 44.75 pellet.
I shot a large badger last year at 60 yards with mine. I am not a fan of head shots on predatory animals as they are not prone to keeping their heads steady for a head shots. The badger took an FX 44.7 gr pellet through the shoulder and made it less than 3’ before expiring. If it will do that to a badger it will do the same to a coyote.
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I use pcps for farm guns. They never bother the livestock, just my dumbass dogs. Lol. Regular powder burners make em go insane.
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100% agree.
Having spent my fair share of time in farm trucks and bumping around on ranch roads, you want something that'll hold its POI, and you want something that doesn't care about being dirty, dusty, and generally abused.
You also mention enough oomph for occasional fox and coyote.
The Condor SS in .25 is that gun.
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Most PCPs nowadays will do the job and have the accuracy you need for up to 100 yards. Just want to make sure you have the FPE for the animal you are pesting as you well know. Get what you can afford used, maybe check the classifies for something that sparks your fancy. It was advice that was given to me and it worked out well.
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And if you need more power hammers, springs and regulators with plenums are easy to install.
I prefer the Condor over the Condor SS. 24 inch barrel with a Reximex Silent Force moderator. Quiet and with a Huben Power MAX-ATH regulator a lot of power.
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If noise is a factor bare in mind that many of these airguns being mentioned will need the bark tamed as well.
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